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Life Without Buildings


Country of origin:

Scotland

Type of music generally:

Alternative pop

Status:

The band broke up in 2002; most recent release Live at the Annandale Hotel (2007); sole full-length studio release, Any Other City (2000)

See also:

Wikipiedia's entry for Life Without Buildings

Comparisons:

Mix Altered Images, Sugarcubes-era Björk's and Sleater Kinney. Then shake it up.

Covers/own material:

Own

General comments:

This band has an immediately distinctive sound. Sue Tompkins not-quite-baby voice belting out staccato (and interesting) lyrics with an energetic sound behind her, as though Altered Images were reborn in 2000 having lived through punk and come out the other side into pop, dragging their roots behind them. It's where pop and post-punk meet, and of course it's a Scottish band that delivers it.
     Something in the style of Sue Tompkins' talk-singing reminds me of Claire Grogan of Altered Images, but the band's sound is more influenced by post-punk than that; something like Björk's Sugarcubes era or maybe Sleater Kinney. In fact, I've seen their sound described as what might happen if Sleater Kinney coerced Björk into singing for them. Add some great musicians. (Neile)

Recommended first album:

Any Other City

Recordings:


Any Other City

Release info:

2000—DC/Baltimore 2012/Tugboat Records—DCB 003

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended for any post-punk/pop fans

Group members:

Sue Tompkins—vocals
Will Bradley—drums
Chris Evans—bass
Robert Johnston—guitar

Produced by:

Andy Miller

Comments:

I love this album. The well-crafted songs have an impressive DIY energy. I'm not always in the right mood for this, but when I am there's nothing like it. Anyone who can sing the words "the right stuff" in so many different ways is all right by me. The whole album is full of great songs and intriguing lyrics. It's sad that this is their sole studio album. (Neile)

Live at the Annandale Hotel

Release info:

2007—Absolutely Kosher Records—AK071

Availability:

Wide in U.S.

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended for any post-punk/pop fans

Group members:

Will Bradley—drums
Chris Evans—bass
Robert Johnston—guitar
Sue Tompkins—vocals

Comments:

It's hard for me to say just what I find so appealing about Life Without Buildings, but it's definitely here on this life album. Something about the energy I suppose, and the juxtaposition of the Sue Tompkins' vocals against the driving instrumentation. Whatever it is, I find it charming, and this album makes me wish I'd seen them live. (Neile)

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DISCLAIMER: Comments and reviews in the Ectophiles' Guide are excerpted from the ecto mailing list or volunteered by members of the list. They are the opinions of music enthusiasts, not professional music critics.

Entry last updated 2016-08-27 17:30:00.
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